Abstract
Heroin is a well known opioid that causes al-terations to the immune system of a number of investigated animals. Only a few studies have explored the effect of heroin on the lymphocytes maturation. Thymocyte progenitors originate from haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. The immature T-cells express neither CD4 nor CD8, and are therefore classed as double-negative (CD4-CD8-) cells. CD34 glycoprotein is the only defined marker of the immature T-lymphocytes. In this study we have investigated the changes induced in CD34+ rat thymocytes after heroin administration by immunofluores-cence in frozen rat thymus sections using the 4H11 monoclonal anti-CD34 antibody. There is a remarkable decrease in the number of CD34+ immature thymocytes when examined 1hour after last heroin injection and a small recover when examination took place 20 days after last injection. The above results suggest a major effect of heroin administration early in the ma- turation process of T lymphocytes probably by increasing the apoptotic cell death and the ne- gative consequences for the immune system responses.
Highlights
Thymocytes are the principal mediators of the sympathetic stimulation that coordinate the organism's acute responses to a large variety of stressors, including the administration of narcotic drugs like morphine, an alkaloid of opium, and its less stable derivative heroin, which is eventually biotransformed into morphine [1,2].Heroin binds a) to endorphin receptors throughout the body causing a feeling of euphoria along with a "relict" of pain and b) to receptors of neurons that travel from the spinal cord to the limbic system causing a feeling of pleasure
In this study we have investigated the effects of heroin administration in CD34+ immature rat T-cell lympocytes using the 4H11 monoclonal anti-CD34 antibody in order to find some evidence on how–at very early stages- the lymphocytes maturation process is affected and what the consequences are for the rest of the immune system response
The results presented are in agreement with previous studies and extend our knowledge in relation to the apoptotic mechanisms in thymus after heroin administration
Summary
Thymocytes are the principal mediators of the sympathetic stimulation that coordinate the organism's acute responses to a large variety of stressors, including the administration of narcotic drugs like morphine, an alkaloid of opium, and its less stable derivative heroin, which is eventually biotransformed into morphine [1,2].Heroin binds a) to endorphin receptors throughout the body causing a feeling of euphoria along with a "relict" of pain and b) to receptors of neurons that travel from the spinal cord to the limbic system causing a feeling of pleasure. Thymocytes are the principal mediators of the sympathetic stimulation that coordinate the organism's acute responses to a large variety of stressors, including the administration of narcotic drugs like morphine, an alkaloid of opium, and its less stable derivative heroin, which is eventually biotransformed into morphine [1,2]. Previous studies have shown that some of heroin’s immunomodulatory effects are similar to those produced by morphine, but some are unique. Both morphine and heroin produce a decrease in the proliferative response of splenic T and B cells, the cytotoxicity of NK cells, and the production of IFN-g by stimulated splenocytes
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